The Best Travel Cameras

An ideal travel camera is compact, lightweight, and versatile. And while the smartphone in your pocket may be all of those things; it's not quite up-to-snuff for the challenging photographic situations you often encounter on vacation.

Dedicated cameras, such as today's superzoom and advanced point-and-shoots, simply take better shots than even the best smartphone cameras. They create superior images with higher resolution, more accurate color, and finer details even in low light. And given what you're paying for a vacation, why not use a camera that will let you capture and share awesome images? 

Today's small cameras also feature versatile lenses that allow you to zoom easily from wide angle to telephoto.

However, even the best travel cameras may sacrifice a few features in the interest of compact packaging, such as interchangeable lenses and a hot-shoe mount for attaching a powerful external flash unit.

Note that our list of the best travel cameras doesn't include any DSLR models. The most dedicated amateur photographers may pack a DSLR for an extended trip, but they're not the best travel cameras for most consumers. A DSLR is typically bulkier and heavier than other options.

Visit Consumer Reports' 2017 Holiday Gift Guide for updates on deals, expert product reviews, insider tips on shopping, and much more. And be sure to check our Daily Gift Guide.

Source: The Best Travel Cameras

Best Camera Gear 2017: Canon 5D IV, EOS 80D, Rebel T5i, SL2

Here's Stark Insider's picks for best camera gear of 2017. Today, we're focusing on Canon DSLR bodies.

Canon continues to offer a very solid line-up of reasonably priced, high performance camera bodies. Whether you're a stills shooter or someone interested in getting into videography there's an assortment of DSLR bodies that will get the job done. But it can be confusing. There's almost too much choice.

So we're simplifying your research and shopping mission. Below are the Stark Insider picks for best models from Canon's current range of DSLR bodies.

If you've followed me on Stark Insider over the years, you know I've been shooting on Canon for my entire life.

For video I do love the new Panasonic GH5. No question, it's a phenomenal mirrorless camera body.

But at about $2,000 (USD) the GH5, or other expensive models from companies like Sony or Fuji, may not fit your budget (if it does, you should most definitely consider for your next filmmaking or music video project). That's where Canon does a nice job. I've used a 70D and, recently, an 80D to shoot several interviews, short films, and travel videos for Stark Insider. Here's a recent example:

Shot on Canon DSLR: Wrong's What I Do Best

Installation: Wrong's What I Do BestLocation: San Francisco Art InstituteDirector: Clinton StarkGear: Canon EOS 70D. Sigma 18-135mm 1.8 ART lens. Canon 18-135mm kit lens. Zoom H6 field recorder. Zoom H1 recorders with Sony lavs.

Canon gets a lot right. Build quality is exceptional. Ease of use is tops. And, most importantly perhaps, the image has that beautiful Canon color. You really can't beat that combination.

I've used all of these camera bodies at least once — borrowed, owned, or rented — and can highly recommend each one. Whether you have about $600 to spend, or even up to $3,000 or so there should be something here to suit every budget and project requirement.

Happy shooting!

Best Canon DSLR for Beginners, Casual Shooters on a Budget: Canon EOS Rebel SL2

Model: Canon EOS Rebel SL2Thumbs Up: Low price, relatively compact for a DSLR body, 24MP APS-C sensor produces beautiful images.Price: $499 via Amazon

Yes, you typically get what you pay for. In this case, though, I think Canon over-delivers. At only $499 this Rebel SL2 still uses a high performance 24MP APS-C sensor. That means simply: great quality photos. And, you get most of what Canon offers in more expensive bodies, including an articulating LCD, long battery life and built-in wireless like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. If you want to upgrade from a smartphone, but don't want to go bananas on spending, the SL2 is a very good choice.

Best Canon DSLR for Videographers & Aspiring Filmmakers: Canon EOS Rebel T5i

Model: Canon EOS Rebel T5iThumbs Up: Compatible with Magic Lantern firmware which opens up this DSLR's capabilities making it a smart low-cost choice for those new to videography or aspiring filmmakers.Price: $549 via Amazon

Here's an interesting choice. The Canon EOS Rebel T5i ($549) has been on the market for a while. In fact, there's newer choices from Canon including the T6i and T7i.

So why the T5i?

For one, it's so reasonably priced that it's hard to not at least take a look. For $549 you get the body and you get an impressive 18-5mm IS STM kit lens (which has exceptional autofocus performance). You do give up some megapixels. The sensor here is "only" 18MP so photographers might want to keep that in mind. For video shooters, however, that's not too relevant. The T5i will still give you nice 1080p HD video. But the big deal here is the T5i is compatible with the Magic Lantern firmware. Install that (it's easy and non-destructive using an SD card) and you open up a world of capability for filmmaking. Exposure and focus tools. Screen overlays. Control over H264 bitrates. You get all the advanced stuff aspiring videographers and filmmakers would want, without spending thousands more for a true cinema camera.

There's  other solid choices in this category including cameras from Blackmagic and Sony and Panasonic. But I find the T5i brings a lot for the price.

Best Canon DSLR for Serious Shooters & Video Enthusiasts: Canon EOS Rebel 80D

Model: Canon EOS Rebel 80DThumbs Up: Auto-focus is best-in-class for video. New processor boosts overall performance. Optical viewfinder preferred by many over digital ones found on mirrorless cameras.Price: $999 via Amazon

If you're ready to take the next step, it's hard to deny the EOS Rebel 80D ($999 for body only). Canon's top-end crop sensor (APS-C) camera body takes decades of know-how and distills it into a high performance package that can just about take on anything from the likes of Olympus, Panasonic and Sony.

Especially impressive is the 80D's best-in-class auto-focus system which canon calls Dual Pixel Auto Focus (DPAF for short). Tap a subject on the LCD and the 80D will track it, keeping it in focus automatically, as it moves across the frame. This is handy for sports, events and just about any scenario where you're not sure where you're subject is going to move next. Landscape and wildlife are other good use cases here for DPAF. True, there's no 4K video. Something to keep in mind if you want to shoot at the highest resolution possible for video (I think it's over-rated, but there are situations where it can be beneficial).

Want to save a little? Consider its predecessor, the more than capable EOS 70D. You give up a bit of processing power (less fps in burst mode for photos, for example), but you still get an excellent 24MP sensor and the vaunted DPAF that works extremely well in tandem with the touchscreen LCD.

Best Canon DSLR for Those Who Want the Very Best: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark IVThumbs Up: Outstanding sensor. Excellent low-light performance. Lots of megapixels means lots of flexibility for photo finishing. Wide FOV for video.Price: $3,199 via Amazon

5D. Just those two letters alone evoke fawning praise and eternal lust. This is among the best Canon has to offer. The most recent iteration is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. What differentiates this one from the models mentioned above is that the 5D uses a full-frame sensor. That means you'll get a wider field of view. You'll also enjoy better performance in low light. And, to boot, be able to take advantage of higher resolution stills thanks to a 30.4MP sensor.

If you simply must have the best — or want to give the best to someone special — this is the one to get.

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Source: Best Camera Gear 2017: Canon 5D IV, EOS 80D, Rebel T5i, SL2

The 7 best cameras of 2017

The vast majority of photos taken in 2017 were snapped on mobile phones. Smartphone cameras are getting so good these days that dedicated cameras need to offer something really special to get people to fork over for them – or bother to carry them around. Here's 7 cameras that blew us away in 2017.

Sony Alpha a9: The day mirrorless took over

If one camera stamped its authority on 2017 for us, it's gotta be the new king of the Sony range. The a9 is a full-frame beast of a thing, the first mirrorless camera that not only equalled the performance of the top DSLRs, but eclipsed them. Lightning-fast, precision-tracking autofocus that blew our tiny minds, 20fps burst shooting, a super high-resolution EVF that doesn't blink when you shoot and one of the most stunning sensors in the business, with super impressive low light performance. The a9 is a glimpse into a true mirrorless future, and by far the best single camera we've ever got our hands on. It's also eye-bleedingly expensive for a pro/prosumer level item.

Panasonic Lumix GH5: Portable video powerhouse

Low-budget filmmakers have loved the GH-series cameras for years, but Panasonic far surpassed everyone's expectations when it released the GH5 and threw the kitchen sink at its video capabilities. That sink includes 4K video at 60fps, high-speed 180 fps slow-motion shooting in 1080p, 10-bit 4:2:2 recording in 4K at 24fps and dual in-lens/in-body image stabilization. Videographers that used to have to work their way around the difficulties of filming with a DSLR found themselves with a much lighter, cheaper micro 4/3rds option, designed for the job, that delivered absolutely stunning footage. A lot of terrific work will get done on this camera for years to come – unless the rumored upcoming GH5s ups the ante again.

Sony RX0: Birth of the production-quality action camera

The humble GoPro changed everything. Suddenly, just about anyone could put a camera just about anywhere, and it resulted in some of the most extreme and outrageous footage humanity has ever produced. But GoPro's mini action cameras have never been production quality; you could very much tell the difference when a GoPro shot showed up in a movie. This will not be the case with Sony's RX0 – a GoPro-sized action camera designed for production-level filming. Zeiss glass, a 15.3 megapixel Exmor sensor, and Sony's Bionz X image processing give it impressive imaging capabilities. It's waterproof out of the box up to ten meters, shockproof and crush-proof, and it shoots slow-mo at up to 1,000fps. It takes action cams to a whole new level.

Nikon D850: full-frame DSLR magnificence

If the Sony a9 sounded the death knell for the DSLR, Nikon wasn't paying attention. Using Sony's outstanding sensor technology, Nikon has built a stunning pro-grade full-frame shooter. Boasting a ludicrous 47.5 megapixel resolution and 153-point autofocus engine, the D850 trounces its Canon rivals when it comes to low light, high ISO performance. It can handle 4K video up to 30 frames per second, or full size RAW shooting at up to 7 frames per second – and if 47.5 megapixels is too much, which it will be for the vast majority of real-world use cases, you can choose to shoot RAW in 3 different resolutions to save card space and processing power down the pipeline, and only use the full size shot when you're planning to print things on the sides of trucks.

Fujifilm GFX 50S: Medium format for the masses

The Pentax 645Z showed us back in 2014 that medium format digital cameras don't need to cost as much as small cars, but Fujifilm has found a way to slash the price of entry again in 2017 with the GFX 50S, a 51.4-megapixel CMOS medium format monster for US$6,500 – not much more than you'd pay for a Nikon D5 or Canon 1DX MkII. It's also impressively compact and portable for a machine with such a whopping big sensor. Weighing in at 825g (29oz), it actually compares to some full frame axes. A tilting touchscreen and detachable EVF round out the versatile shooting abilities of this highly affordable demon of a thing. Mind you, you'll want to save a substantial whack of money for a set of GF series glass to match.

Panasonic DC-FZ80: Affordable superzoom imaging

Moving down into the consumer tech price range, the US$400 FZ80 offers a very clear value proposition over the simple smartphone camera: it can zoom in to absolutely obscene levels. Its built-in 60x superzoom offers the equivalent of a 20-1200 mm full frame equivalent lens, which is boosted even further with a 4x electronic zoom until you can damn near look in the windows of passing airliners. Maxed out, you can only fit a quarter of the moon's cratery surface in your shot, and its image stabilization is good enough that you can do a lot of this stuff hand-held. With a tiny sensor, it doesn't offer terrific low-light performance or pro-grade imaging, but it opens up extraordinary perspectives and is just a ton of fun to walk around with.

Insta360 Air: 360-degree photo and video goes mainstream

Full-coverage panoramic video has been around for a while, letting viewers look around inside a piece of footage as if they were right in the middle of the action. But 2017 marked the beginning of super-accessible 360-degree cameras with devices like the US$119 Insta360 Air, which clips on top of a smartphone and enables high-res 360-degree photo and video to be taken and automatically stitched together for instant sharing. It's not pro-grade, not by a long stretch, but it's super simple and fun. We were particularly taken with the Insta360's video editing software, which allows you to morph between different projections of the image to create some wildly trippy visuals like the video below:

More about the Insta360 Air

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Source: The 7 best cameras of 2017

Daily Deal: The Perfect Camera for Beginner Photographers

A few months before I took off on a two-week trip to France and England, I bought a Sony a6000 mirrorless camera. My transition from photo illiterate to shooting kickass wide-angle landscape shots was almost effortless. While the a6000 gives you the option to shoot in manual mode, there are loads of easy-to-use preset options. You can shoot in full automatic mode and let the camera do its thing, snap manually, or choose a mode in between that lets you change just one setting at a time.

The different settings helped me quickly learn what shutter speed, aperture, and ISO do. But the feature that seriously helped me ease into taking better photos with the camera was the viewfinder—the eyepiece you use to line up your shot. With a mirrorless camera like the a6000, when you look into the viewfinder, you see a digital image of the shot in real-time with the settings already applied. You know what your picture will look like before you actually press the button. For a beginner, it's incredibly helpful.

6 Innovations for Your Next Outdoor Adventure:

I've used it to take travel pictures from France to Cuba and, of course, to photograph friends and family. Don't be fooled by the fact that this camera is easy to use. It packs an impressive 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, super fast autofocus, a handy tilting LCD screen, and a 100-25600 ISO range. It also can shoot continuously at 11 frames per second, helping capture fleeting moments and action shots. It shoots videos in 1080p HD, too, and has a built-in flash. Plus, you can change the lenses when you're ready for something new.

The Sony Alpha a6000 is currently on sale at Jet for $498, though it retails for $598. It comes with a standard kit lens and would be an awesome gift for a budding photographer.

Source: Daily Deal: The Perfect Camera for Beginner Photographers

Win A Canon EOS M5 Camera Kit!

Win A Canon EOS M5 Camera Kit! - Today in the ePHOTOzine Christmas Prize Draw, get your hands on a Canon EOS M5 mirrorless kit!

Posted : 2 Dec 2017 12:00AM by ePHOTOzine 

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It's the second day of ePHOTOzine's Christmas Prize Draw extravaganza, and today you can get your hands on a Canon EOS M5 mirrorless kit! 

This highly portable mirrorless camera uncompromisingly distils DSLR speed and quality into a compact and lightweight body, packed with EOS advanced technologies.

You can also still enter the previous prize draw if you haven't done so already to win the following fantastic kit: 

Nikon D5600 camera kit  

Enter now

Unsure how to enter? Take a look at the Christmas Prize Draw Guide.

Source: Win A Canon EOS M5 Camera Kit!

Sony lands 3rd full-frame mirrorless camera in PH

Sony Philippines announced an additional member to their full-frame mirrorless camera line and its full-frame E-mount lens models – the α7R III and the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Standard Zoom.

Sony α7R III

The new α7R III combines a compact, lightweight body and reliable tools for photographers and videographers.

The 42-megapixel 35mm full-frame and back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS image sensor utilize a gapless on-chip lens design and anti-reflective coating on the surface of the sensor's seal glass. This improves light collection efficiency resulting in high sensitivity with low-noise performance and wide dynamic range.

It is also equipped with a five-axis optical image stabilization system producing a 5.5 step shutter speed advantage.

α7R III's refined image processing system allows it to shoot full 42.4-megapixel images at up to 10 frames per second (fps) with continuous, accurate auto-focus (AF) and auto-exposure (AE) tracking. The high speed mode is available with either a mechanical shutter or a completely silent shooting.

Moreover, this camera offers 4K (3840×2160 pixels) video recording across the full width of the full-frame image sensor. When shooting in Super 35mm format, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 5K of information.

Users can easily transfer files to your smartphone, tablet, computer, or even an FTP service via Wi-Fi. It also has a USB 3.1, Type-C port that allows fast charging and transfer speed when copying photos to your computer.

Sony's latest full-frame camera has longer battery life, dual media slots for SD cards, an a multi-selector joystick, too, as well as an "AF ON" button to activate autofocus immediately.

Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

Sony Philippines also launched the new FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS lens designed to deliver corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the entirety of its zoom range.

This high image quality came from an advanced optical design featuring four aspherical lens elements, two of which are high precision advanced aspherical lenses. There are also three strategically located extra-low dispersion glass elements that work in combination with the aspherical lenses' elements to minimise chromatic aberration and ensure the ultimate resolution is captured.

The lens also has Sony's original Nano AR coating to minimize flare and ghosting. It's quite light to carry around as it weighs in at approximately 663 grams.

The Sony α7R III is priced at P179,999 and will be available starting December 22, while the FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS priced at P82,990 is now available at Sony Centers.

Source: Sony lands 3rd full-frame mirrorless camera in PH

B&H Photo Offers Outstanding Savings on Canon, Nikon and Sony Cameras and Lenses

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - December 11, 2017) - B&H continues to offer outstanding savings and deals this holiday season, most recently with its new Save-More-Green Monday campaign.

Canon Lenses Savings Up-To $300.00 savings:

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 II USM Lens

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/486708-USA/Canon_1910B002AA_EF_16_35mm_f_2_8L_II.html

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, a high performance, water-resistant, ultra wide-angle L-series zoom lens. An f/2.8 maximum aperture is effective in low light situations and offers shallow depth of field focus control. The optical design has been improved to offer better edge-to-edge image quality. In addition, it features 3 high-precision aspherical lens elements, each of a different type: ground, replica and GMo. Its ultrasonic motor (USM) and improved AF algorithms will help the lens to focus faster and quieter. Precise manual focus is supported even in One Shot AF mode and a truly round aperture results in pleasing background blur.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/647011-USA/Canon_3554B002_EF_100mm_f_2_8L_Macro.html

The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens is the L-series version of Canon's popular 100mm Macro lens. As an L-series lens it offers the utmost in optical construction, including ultra-low dispersion lens elements and moisture and dustproof seal structure on the barrel. Its 100mm focal length is effective for portraiture and other telephoto applications and as a macro lens with 1:1 magnification and a 12" minimum focus distance, it is ideal for life-size close-up imaging.

Sony Cameras and Lenses Savings of Up-To $500.00

Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses Kit

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1349039-REG/sony_alpha_a6500_mirrorless_digital.html

Start your image making journey with the tools to capture a wide range of subjects by picking up this Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses Kit from B&H. It bundles the 24MP and UHD 4K shooting camera with the E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS and E 55-210mm f/4.5-6.3 OSS lenses to provide wide angle to equivalent telephoto zoom ranges of 24-75mm and 82.5-315mm, respectively.

Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses and Free Accessory Kit

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1326415-REG/sony_alpha_a6300_mirrorless_digital.html

Comprising the essential components needed to begin shooting, the Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm and 55-210mm Lenses and Free Accessory Kit from B&H bundles the versatile camera body with a pair of zoom lenses, a 64GB SDHC memory card, a spare rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a protective shoulder bag.

See all Sony Savings and deals, here https://www.bhphotovideo.com/sony-savings/deals

Find More B&H Green Monday Savings here https://www.bhphotovideo.com/green-monday/deals

About B&H Photo Video

As the world's largest source of photography lenses, video, and audio equipment, as well as computers, drones, and home and portable entertainment, B&H is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force and excellent customer service, including fast, reliable shipping. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for 40 years.

Visitors to the website can access a variety of educational videos and enlightening articles. The B and H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists. You can view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost experts and interviews with some of technology's most dynamic characters. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H YouTube Channel here. In addition to videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals.

When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The techno-carousel spins all year round at the counters and kiosks at B&H. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo SuperStore is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest gear.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2017/10/25/11G146940/Images/mw1c13mou7a1bb7bvf1n8to82f72-37e6ef11dfe99cc1af61ba1e268b6a24.jpg

Embedded Video Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmN6pBEfSIQ

Source: B&H Photo Offers Outstanding Savings on Canon, Nikon and Sony Cameras and Lenses